WEATHER: LEAD BOATS: Winds from the ENE @ 8 to 12 knots. Seas from the SSW @ 4 feet / 18 seconds. MIDDLE BOATS: Winds from the N @ 7 to 12 knots. Seas from the SSE to SW @ 4 feet / 11-14 seconds. BACK OF THE FLEET BOATS: Winds from the NNW clocking to the NW @ 14 to 19 knots. Seas from the SSW to SW @ 5-6 feet / 14-15 seconds.

Our curiosity about activities on board these ocean rowing boats continues with each passing day as the teams in the Great Pacific Race head toward Hawaii.

Those of us following from our armchairs are anxious for any news from our teams. Social barriers have been removed as we are curious about all aspects of their row. We look forward to comments from teams such as:

“Divorcometer at 0. Sami has been showering faithfully (a good thing) but right in front of the window (a very, very bad thing).”
“Amanda did say that she and Aoife brushed their hair for the first time on about day 5 and it took ages!”
“At the end of a shift it takes him [Darren ‘Billy’ Taylor] less time to go from his rowing seat to being in the cabin without any pants or undies than it does for Usain Bolt to polish off a 100m.”

Messages of support and encouragement continue to flow in from around the globe. In the Day 14 Race Report, we mentioned how Team NOMAN had been stopped in their tracks as the US Navy performed some exercises at sea. After that event, Team NOMAN received this message from Lieutenant Commander Travis Gill from the US Navy:

“It was the VX-30 Bloodhounds, a US Navy squadron, that was trying to locate you visually that morning. With the moderate sea state and the multitude of white caps it was very difficult to find you visually from 1,000 feet. We were able to see you once you helped talk us onto your position. Thank you for your cooperation in deploying your sea anchor and staying outside the hazard area. Best of luck to you all, your journey to Hawaii, and your fight to end HPV. Cheers, LCDR Travis Gill, US Navy.”

Also from Team NOMAN, we received a report from Rachel (Chris Blacketer’s other half) who recently received a surprise call from the team.

“He [Blacketer] was far more interested in what was going on at home – think they all need something else to think about as the boredom begins to set in, seeing only water can’t be particularly scintillating!”

Elsa Hammond, on the other hand, explains:
“The last few days I’ve been rowing in silence, enjoying the space in my head and the thoughts that come up and disappear again.”

In case you are wondering what type of message to send to the teams, how about giving them something to think about. World Cup scores are frequently requested, news from home, and also brain teasers and quotes. It’s good to give our teams something to ponder while rowing.

For our jokesters on Team Battleborn, they have learned the lesson that if you say things with confidence that people tend to believe you.

“I [Philip Cavanagh] have been rowing shifts with Billy [Darren Taylor] for the last week now, and to make the time go slightly quicker I’ve been making up complete lies and passing them off as truths. I told him that the Pacific was the wettest ocean in the world, and for nearly a minute he sat there in silence before exclaiming that couldn’t be true.”

Little facts and figures can keep teams entertained for hours while rowing. Team Battleborn has been pondering this lately:

“Could someone tell us if ducks quacks actually echo? He [Taylor] says it’s a myth but I [Cavanagh] read it on the back of a Penguin bar, and I’m sure the good folks at McVities wouldn’t mislead us.”

“We have started two fantasies that we ask each other to play out, several times per day. One is about my [Meredith Loring] birthday, it goes something like this:
Me: how many more days till my birthday?
Sami: let’s see, today is the 26th, so that makes 20. What do you think is going to happen on your birthday??
Me: A helicopter is going to come and Teddy is going to be swinging below it in a harness! He’s going to come on board and lick and wiggle!
Sami: he might even pee he’s so excited!
Me: yeah!”

Their other fantasy is about “the cleansing we will have when we land. Bathtub full of bubbles and flowers. Shaving. Hair washing. Manicures!”

Keep rowing teams! Those mani/ pedi’s, spa days, gin & tonics, family and friends will all be there in the islands to welcome you after your incredible journey.

I must go down to the sea again Like I did the day before And all I ask is a light wind Force two or three, no more!

A gentle sea and a sunny sky Would suit an ocean rower And a G and T and a Jaffa Cake When the long day’s o’er

GPR HAPPY HOUR IN LONDON – MONDAY, JUNE 30
For those of you in London, there will be a gathering in honor of all participants in the Great Pacific Race on Monday, June 30 from 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm local time. The venue is the Allsop Arms Pub, 137-143 Gloucester Place, London. If you are in the area, please drop in and show your support for all of our crews rowing across the mighty Pacific.